Skip to main content
Ingredients

Why Haven’t I Been Making Caramelly Brown Sugar Toast All My Life?

It’s sweet, buttery, and crunchy–and ready in just 10 minutes.
By Published May 2, 2022

It was an ordinary day. I was perched at my desk in our ATK offices when Deputy Food Editor Andrea Geary quietly walked up and placed a plate beside my laptop. It held a thick, perfectly square slice of bread that was deeply and evenly browned, and it sparkled in the sunlight streaming in from a nearby window. When Andrea stops by with a snack, I never ask questions, I just dive right in. This time, she stood by and smiled as I crunched my way through what turned out to be the buttery, sugary, delight she calls Caramelly Brown Sugar Toast.

Sign up for the Cook's Insider newsletter

The latest recipes, tips, and tricks, plus behind-the-scenes stories from the Cook's Illustrated team.

A thick, fluffy slice of shokupan is a pleasure in its own right, but that day, Andrea had the genius idea of turning generous slices of the downy bread into crisp, sweet toast. It’s the best kind of treat: pure, simple, and wholly satisfying. 

If you have a loaf of shokupan on hand (which I can’t recommend strongly enough), then making the confection takes only 10 minutes: It’s as easy as spreading a brown sugar-and-salted butter mixture onto a thick slice of bread, and griddling it until the butter browns and the sugar melts and caramelizes, turning a deep tawny brown. As the toast cools, the sugar-butter mixture firms up and turns wonderfully crunchy. 

How to Make Caramelly Brown Sugar Toast

1. Mix together 1 tablespoon softened salted butter and 1 tablespoon packed dark brown sugar.

 2. Evenly spread half of mixture on 1 side of 1-inch-thick slice of shokupan and place bread butter side down in small nonstick skillet.

3. Spread remaining butter mixture on top of bread.  

4. Cook over medium heat until browned and crisp on both sides, 3 to 4 minutes per side, watching carefully and adjusting heat to prevent burning. 

5. Transfer to wire rack to crisp and cool slightly before serving.

Book

Desserts Illustrated

Part cookbook, part handbook, Desserts Illustrated is the last word on the last (but definitely not the least) course.

How to Serve Caramelly Brown Sugar Toast

Now that I’ve memorized the incredibly simple recipe, I make it all the time, and the payoff is huge: With a cold glass of milk, it’s a truly special midday or midnight snack. Need an indulgent breakfast item for guests? Add some sliced bananas, you’ll wow them. It’s also terrific as a lazy dessert, served with a big spoonful of whipped cream and a handful of fresh berries or pitted cherries.  

Check out Andrea’s recipe for shokupan here.

0 Comments

Try All-Access Membership to Unlock the Comments
Don't miss the conversation. Our test cooks and editors jump in to answer your questions, and our members are curious, opinionated, and respectful.
Membership includes instant access to everything on our sites:
  • 10,000+ foolproof recipes and why they work
  • Taste Tests of supermarket ingredients
  • Equipment Reviews save you money and time
  • Videos including full episodes and clips
  • Live Q&A with Test Kitchen experts
Start Free Trial
JC
JOHN C.
16 days

Absolutely the best chicken ever, even the breast meat was moist! It's the only way I'll cook a whole chicken again. Simple, easy, quick, no mess - perfect every time. I've used both stainless steel and cast iron pans. great and easy technique for “roasted” chicken. I will say there were no pan juices, just fat in the skillet. Will add to the recipe rotation. Good for family and company dinners too. I've done this using a rimmed sheet pan instead of a skillet and put veggies and potatoes around the chicken for a one-pan meal. Broccoli gets nicely browned and yummy!

Absolutely the best chicken ever, even the breast meat was moist! It's the only way I'll cook a whole chicken again. Simple, easy, quick, no mess - perfect every time. I've used both stainless steel and cast iron pans. great and easy technique for “roasted” chicken. I will say there were no pan juices, just fat in the skillet. Will add to the recipe rotation. Good for family and company dinners too.

MD
MILES D.
JOHN C.
9 days

Amazed this recipe works out as well as it does. Would not have thought that the amount of time under the broiler would have produced a very juicy and favorable chicken with a very crispy crust. Used my 12" Lodge Cast Iron skillet (which can withstand 1000 degree temps to respond to those who wondered if it would work) and it turned out great. A "make again" as my family rates things. This is a great recipe, and I will definitely make it again. My butcher gladly butterflied the chicken for me, therefore I found it to be a fast and easy prep. I used my cast iron skillet- marvellous!

CM
CHARLES M.
11 days

John, wasn't it just amazing chicken? So much better than your typical oven baked chicken and on par if not better than gas or even charcoal grilled. It gets that smokey charcoal tasted and overnight koshering definitely helps, something I do when time permits. First-time I've pierced a whole chicken minus the times I make jerk chicken on the grill. Yup, the cast iron was not an issue.